Portable aboveground pool and a method for manufacture thereof

ABSTRACT

There is provided a method for manufacturing a portable aboveground pool, the method comprising removing at least a portion of a top panel of a shipping container and inserting a breadthwise vertical partition into the shipping container so as to define a swimming pool area at one end of the shipping container. The upper portion of the shipping container is removed to make allowance for a pool portion and upper decking is provided adjacent the pool portion for entering and exiting the pool portion. Stairs lead to the decking, and a gate selectively closes the stairs. The pool may have an under deck pool equipment storage space accessible via the existing doors of the container.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a portable aboveground pool and amethod for manufacture thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to one aspect, there is provided a method for manufacturing aportable aboveground pool, the method comprising removing at least aportion of a top panel of a shipping container and inserting abreadthwise vertical partition into the shipping container so as todefine a swimming pool area at one end of the shipping container.

The method may further comprise removing upper portions of the walls ofthe shipping container to reduce the height of the aboveground pool.

The method may further comprise providing a protective rim along the atleast a portion of the upper edges of the walls of the shippingcontainer.

The method may further comprise inserting a waterproof membrane into theswimming pool area.

The waterproof membrane may be shaped to conform substantially to theinterior of the swimming pool area.

The waterproof membrane may be substantially rigid.

The waterproof membrane may be a fibreglass mould.

The partition may be corrugated.

The partition may be manufactured from at least a portion of the toppanel.

Removing at least a portion of the top panel may comprise removingsubstantially the entire top panel and wherein the method may furthercomprise fastening a deck adjacent the swimming pool area.

The deck may be located substantially at an upper edge of the shippingcontainer.

The method may further comprise installing pool filtration equipment inthe storage area.

The method further comprising reticulating conduits between the poolfiltration equipment and the swimming pool area.

The method may further comprise providing an electrical power source forthe pool filtration equipment.

The electrical power source may comprise a generator stored within thestorage area.

The electrical power source may comprise a battery bank stored withinthe storage area.

The electrical power source may further comprise a solar panel forcharging the battery bank.

The storage area may be located at the doors so as to allow access tothe storage area via the doors.

The method may further comprise installing ascending stairs passingthrough the storage area.

The method may further comprise locating pool filtration equipmentbeneath the stairs.

The ascending stairs are breadthwise orientated.

The method may further comprise removing a portion of a lateral wall ofthe shipping container adjacent the lower portion of the stairs to allowaccess to the stairs.

The method may further comprise providing a gate adjacent the lowerportion of the stairs.

The gate may be manufactured from the portion of the lateral wall.

According to another aspect, there is provided a shipping containermanufactured in accordance with the method as described herein.

Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of thepresent invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now bedescribed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows an aboveground pool in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure; and

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the aboveground pool of FIG. 1 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles inaccordance with the disclosure, reference will now be made to theembodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will beused to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that nolimitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Anyalterations and further modifications of the inventive featuresillustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles ofthe disclosure as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to oneskilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure,are to be considered within the scope of the disclosure.

Before the structures, systems and associated methods relating to theportable aboveground pool and a method for manufacture thereof aredisclosed and described, it is to be understood that this disclosure isnot limited to the particular configurations, process steps, andmaterials disclosed herein as such may vary somewhat. It is also to beunderstood that the terminology employed herein is used for the purposeof describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to belimiting since the scope of the disclosure will be limited only by theclaims and equivalents thereof.

In describing and claiming the subject matter of the disclosure, thefollowing terminology will be used in accordance with the definitionsset out below.

It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appendedclaims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referentsunless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

As used herein, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,”“characterised by,” and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive oropen-ended terms that do not exclude additional, unrecited elements ormethod steps.

It should be noted in the following description that like or the samereference numerals in different embodiments denote the same or similarfeatures.

Turning now to FIG. 1, there is shown a constructed portable abovegroundpool 1. As will become apparent from the ensuing description, the pool 1is manufactured from a standard sized shipping container and thereforeprovides advantages in cost reduction, portability and the like.

In embodiments, the pool 1 may be manufactured off site, including theinstallation of all necessary pool filtration equipment and the like forsubsequent delivery. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the aboveground pool 1has a swimming pool area 13, steps 7 to ascend into the swimming poolarea, a deck 3 and access gate 9 selectively barring access to thestairs and other features as will be described in further detail below.

Specifically, there will be described a method for manufacturing theportable aboveground pool 1 with reference to FIG. 2.

The method for manufacturing the portable aboveground pool 1 comprisesremoving at least a portion of a top panel of the shipping container 4and inserting a breadth wise vertical partition 6 into the shippingcontainer 4 so as to define the swimming pool area 13 at one end of theshipping container 4.

In embodiments, where lower height is required, the method may compriseremoving upper portions of the walls of the shipping container to reducethe height of the aboveground pool 1.

In embodiments, the method may comprise providing a protective rim 12along at least a portion of the upper edges of the walls of the shippingcontainer 4. The protective rim 12 may be manufactured from wood, forexample.

In embodiments, the swimming pool area 13 may be sealed with sealant soas to make the swimming pool area 13 substantially watertight. However,in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the method further comprisesinserting a waterproof membrane 2 into the swing pool area 13.

As can be seen, the waterproof membrane 2 may be shaped to conformsubstantially to the interior of the swing pool area 13. In this manner,the watertight membrane 2 may comprise a height so as to reach the upperedges of the walls of the modified shipping container 4.

In embodiments, the waterproof membrane 2 may be substantially rigidsuch as by being manufactured from a fibreglass mould. In thisembodiment, the waterproof membrane 12 may be configured so as to defineinterior features such as interior steps and the like.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the waterproof membrane 2 may betapered towards the base. However, in other embodiment, the waterproofmembrane 2 may be substantially cuboid having substantially verticalwalls.

In one embodiment, the partition 6 may be corrugated so as tosubstantially withstand the pressure exerted by the water containedwithin the membrane 2. In embodiments, the partition may be manufacturedfrom at least a portion of the top panel given that typical shippingcontainers already comprise corrugated strengthened panels.

Now, in one embodiment, removing the portion of the top panel maycomprise removing only a portion of the top panel so as to expose theswimming pool area 13. In this manner, users may utilise the remainingportion of the top panel as the deck 3.

However, in a preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, substantially theentire top panel of the container 4 is removed. In this manner, the deck3 maybe fastened adjacent the swimming pool area 3. In this manner,users may sit or stand on the deck and enter or exit the swimming poolarea 13 from the deck 3. In embodiments the deck 3 may be manufacturedfrom wood or other suitable material.

Now, as can be seen, the partition 6 defines a storage area 5 oppositethe swimming pool area 13. As such, the method may further compriseinstalling pool filtration equipment 8 in the storage area 5. In thismanner, the pool 1 may be provided as a truly portable unit having aninbuilt filtration system negating the need to connect the pool 1 toexternal pool equipment or the like.

The method may further comprise reticulating conduits between the poolfiltration equipment 8 and the swimming pool area 13.

In embodiments, the method may further comprise providing an electricalpower source for the pool filtration equipment 8. In embodiments, theelectric power source may comprise an internal combustion enginegenerators stored within the storage area 5. In another embodiment, theelectric power source may comprise a battery bank such as one which ischarged from solar panels which may be fastened to exterior surfaces ofthe swimming pool 1.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the shipping container 4 has doors 10.Furthermore, the storage area 5 is located at the doors 10 so as toallow access to the storage area 5 via the doors 10.

The method may further comprise installing ascending stairs 7 passingthrough the storage area 5. As can be seen, the width of the deck 3 isshortened so as to meet the top edge of the stairs 7. Furthermore, ascan be seen, in a preferred embodiment, the ascending stairs 7 arebreadthwise orientated. Such may comprise removing a portion of thelateral wall of the shipping container adjacent the lower portion of thestairs 7 so as to allow access to the stairs 7. The method may furthercomprise providing a gate 9 adjacent the lower portion of the stairs.The gate 9 may be manufactured from the removed portion of the lateralwall.

The gate 9 may be fastened by way of a hinge or slide mechanism. In thismanner, to access the swimming pool area 13, the user would open thegate 9, ascend the stairs 7, stand on the deck 3 and then enter theswimming pool area 13 from the deck 3. In embodiment handrails may beprovided to ease the transition from the deck 3 to the swimming poolarea 13.

In another embodiments, the stairs 7 may be accessed from the doors 10of the shipping container such that the user opens the doors 10 toaccess the stairs 7. In this embodiment no lateral gate 9 is required.

As alluded to above, the aboveground pool 1 manufactured in this wayprovides a portable aboveground pool 1 having advantages in portability(especially in being able to hoist the pool 1 utilising the standardshipping container fasteners 11), lower manufacturer cost, integratedpool filtration equipment and restricted access by way of access gate 9.

Interpretation Embodiments

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases“in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughoutthis specification are not necessarily all referring to the sameembodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures orcharacteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would beapparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, inone or more embodiments.

Similarly it should be appreciated that in the above description ofexample embodiments of the invention, various features of the inventionare sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, ordescription thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure andaiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventiveaspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than allfeatures of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claimsfollowing the Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments are herebyexpressly incorporated into this Detailed Description of SpecificEmbodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separateembodiment of this invention.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some butnot other features included in other embodiments, combinations offeatures of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope ofthe invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood bythose in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of theclaimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

Different Instances of Objects

As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinaladjectives “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., to describe a commonobject, merely indicate that different instances of like objects arebeing referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects sodescribed must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, inranking, or in any other manner.

Specific Details

In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are setforth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention maybe practiced without these specific details. In other instances,well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown indetail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

Terminology

In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated inthe drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake ofclarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to thespecific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that eachspecific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in asimilar manner to accomplish a similar technical purpose. Terms such as“forward”, “rearward”, “radially”, “peripherally”, “upwardly”,“downwardly”, and the like are used as words of convenience to providereference points and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

Comprising and Including

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of theinvention, except where the context requires otherwise due to expresslanguage or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variationssuch as “comprises” or “comprising” are used in an inclusive sense, i.e.to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude thepresence or addition of further features in various embodiments of theinvention.

Any one of the terms: including or which includes or that includes asused herein is also an open term that also means including at least theelements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus,including is synonymous with and means comprising.

Scope of Invention

Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be thepreferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art willrecognize that other and further modifications may be made theretowithout departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intendedto claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope ofthe invention. For example, any formulas given above are merelyrepresentative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may beadded or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may beinterchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted tomethods described within the scope of the present invention.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specificexamples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that theinvention may be embodied in many other forms.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

It is apparent from the above, that the arrangements described areapplicable to the pool equipment industries.

1. A method for manufacturing a portable aboveground pool, the methodcomprising: removing at least a portion of a top panel of a shippingcontainer and inserting a breadthwise vertical partition into theshipping container so as to define a swimming pool area at one end ofthe shipping container.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein themethod further comprises removing upper portions of the walls of theshipping container to reduce the height of the aboveground pool.
 3. Amethod as claimed in claim 1, further comprising providing a protectiverim along the at least a portion of the upper edges of the walls of theshipping container.
 4. A method as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising inserting a waterproof membrane into the swimming pool area.5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the waterproof membrane isshaped to conform substantially to the interior of the swimming poolarea.
 6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the waterproof membraneis substantially rigid.
 7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein thewaterproof membrane is a fibreglass mould.
 8. A method as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the partition is corrugated.
 9. A method as claimed inclaim 8, wherein the partition is manufactured from at least a portionof the top panel.
 10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein removingat least a portion of the top panel comprises removing substantially theentire top panel and wherein the method further comprises fastening adeck adjacent the swimming pool area.
 11. A method as claimed in claim10, wherein the deck is located substantially at an upper edge of theshipping container.
 12. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein thepartition defines storage area opposite the swimming pool area andwherein the method further comprises installing pool filtrationequipment in the storage area.
 13. A method as claimed in claim 12,wherein the method further comprising reticulating conduits between thepool filtration equipment and the swimming pool area.
 14. A method asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises providing anelectrical power source for the pool filtration equipment.
 15. A methodas claimed in claim 14, wherein the electrical power source comprises agenerator stored within the storage area.
 16. A method as claimed inclaim 14, wherein the electrical power source comprises a battery bankstored within the storage area.
 17. A method as claimed in claim 16,wherein the electrical power source further comprises a solar panel forcharging the battery bank.
 18. A method as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe shipping containers has doors and wherein the storage area islocated at the doors so as to allow access to the storage area via thedoors.
 19. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising installingascending stairs passing through the storage area.
 20. A method asclaimed in claim 19, further comprising locating pool filtrationequipment beneath the stairs.
 21. A method as claimed in claim 19,wherein the ascending stairs are breadthwise orientated.
 22. A method asclaimed in claim 21, further comprising removing a portion of a lateralwall of the shipping container adjacent the lower portion of the stairsto allow access to the stairs.
 23. A method as claimed in claim 19,further comprising providing a gate adjacent the lower portion of thestairs.
 24. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the gate ismanufactured from the portion of the lateral wall.
 25. A portable aboveground pool comprising a substantially rectangular body comprising ametallic shipping container having an upper panel of the shippingcontainer removed, the shipping container having shipping containerdoors; a substantially rectangular waterproof container having a widthapproximately the same as that of the body and a length shorter thanthat of the body, the waterproof container located within the bodytowards an end of the body away from the doors, the waterproof containeradapted for holding water for swimming therein; horizontal deckinglocated at an upper edge of the body, the decking spanning lengthwisebetween the waterproof container and the doors, the decking having awidth less than that of the body; and stairs leading from an access gateformed in one lateral side wall of the body to the decking.